The AFC South, 2023 Season
 

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The AFC South Is Surprisingly Deadlocked in a 4-Way Tie for 1st Place, at 2-2

(By Wendi Oliveros)

https://thesportsdaily.com/news/the-...-place-at-2-2/

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(COLTS vs. TITANS, 10/08)


A big win for the Colts ......


(1) ) A great game for the Colts' defense.


(2) ) A great game for Zach Moss.


(3) ) Another commendable job of relief pitching by Gardner Minshew.

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The AFC South Is Entertaining Television

(By Stephen Knox)

https://deadspin.com/nfl-week-5-take...ans-1850911673


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The Colts and the Titans Play a Thriller in Jonathan Taylor’s Return to the Field


Jonathan Taylor did not touch the ball very much in his 2023 debut for the Colts. In the days leading up to the Colts’ Week 5 matchups against the Titans, he signed a multi-year contract in line with what the top running backs in the NFL receive.

He played against the Titans, but only touched the ball seven times. During the summer, the Colts were projected to not sniff the playoffs. Taylor’s contract dispute was not the only reason for the Colts’ low expectations ...... they entered the season starting a rookie quarterback ...... Anthony Richardson ...... whose scouting report should have been literally stamped “raw.”

Even though Taylor was hardly used, and Richardson exited the game with his second injury of the season, this match-up between division rivals was a fun watch. The Colts were feisty all day, proving that their 2-2 record was no fluke. Derrick Henry was largely a non-factor for the Titans, while his backup ...... Tyjae Spears ...... was a match-up problem for the Colts, as he tallied 11 touches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Also, DeAndre Hopkins was snatching passes from all angles for the Titans, as he totaled 140 yards on 8 receptions.

As well as Hopkins and Spears played, the Colts were still able to pull out the victory at home. Gardner Minshew filled in at quarterback for the second time this season, and threw only 3 incomplete passes out of 4 attempts. Also, from the Colts’ first possession to their final one, Zack Moss was unstoppable ...... he gashed the Titans for 165 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while averaging 7.2 yards per carry in the process.

Going into Sunday’s game, Moss had rushed for 280 yards while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. These Colts, who had the 4-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, are now 3-2 on the season. A backfield tandem of Moss and Taylor ...... at minimum ...... will be able to make the rest of the AFC South consider the Colts a threat.

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(COLTS vs. JAGUARS, 10/15)


One week after a great win over the Titans, the Colts had an awful game against the Jaguars.

The only saving grace is that they showed some fight and actually had a scintilla of a chance to make a comeback when they scored two 4th-quarter TD's and had possession of the ball with almost 5 minutes left to play while being down by 14 points.

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The Colts really should've traded up for Stroud.

Color me shocked.

Regardless of the comparison with AR, which we unfortunately have to wait for... Fact remains that we're going to have to deal with that kid for a while.

So far, looks like that's going to suck.

Which is exactly why the Colts should've traded up for him.

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We are 5-5 with (mostly) Minshew at quarterback ...... we have a lot to look forward to when Richardson comes back next year.

Also, don't count out the 2023 Colts just yet ...... they would be 7-4 if not for getting robbed in the game against the Browns, and we have what looks to be a solid defense that (when healthy) will keep us in most games.

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Things were looking promising before AR's injury. If he doesn't go down, the Texans are saying the same thing about having to deal with him.

The comparison is just put on delay right now. All we get to see is Stroud doing well.

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3 Things That the Colts Must Do to get Above .500 Against the Buccaneers in Week 12

(By Vignesh Mulay)

https://horseshoeheroes.com/posts/3-...2-01hfqjr0gmmt




1) l Get the ball out of Gardner Minshew's hands quickly.


2) l Challenge Tampa Bay's secondary early and often.


3) l Contain Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on defense.

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When the Chiefs played the Eagles on a nationally-televised ) Monday Night Football ) game during the Colts' bye-week, I had stated that the only way in which that game would be relevant to the Colts would if the Chiefs lost to the Eagles, it would be their 3rd loss of the season ...... so if the Colts ran the table to finish at 12-5 and the Chiefs lost 2 additional games, the Colts could win the AFC South and perhaps win the tie-breaker against the Chiefs. Since the Colts already beat the Ravens, that scenario could very well give the Colts the #1 seed in the AFC, and a 1st-round bye.

ESPN ) recently made a chart for their AFC playoff projections ...... according to them, the Colts have a 44% chance to make the playoffs, a 3% chance to win the AFC South, and a less-than-1% chance to clinch a 1st-round bye ...... that chart's projections puts my comment in regard to the chances of the Chiefs-Eagles game being relevant to the Colts into perspective.




2023 NFL Playoff Picture: AFC, NFC Seed Projections in Week 13

(ESPN Staff)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ons-super-bowl

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They'd be 7-4 and the current 5th seed.

This all would be more exciting with AR. Playoffs would still be nice if for nothing else but playoff experience.

I don't see a tie happening

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(DECEMBER 4th)



AFC South Coming on Strong in Playoff Push

(By Will Brinson)

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/n...some-finality/

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Things are going to be interesting now. Jags may not even make the playoffs with the schedule they have coming up

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Trevor Lawrence Leaves 'MNF' Game vs. Bengals With Ankle Injury

(By Jason Owens)

https://sports.yahoo.com/jaguars-qb-...035454840.html

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This has been a very tough year for QB injuries. Fans are missing out on some of the best QBs in the game.

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They are, but that's the way it is in a sport as violent and as fast as is tackle football.

I'm not trying to be insensitive, but that reality will never change, no matter how much they alter the rules to try to make the game safer. Star quarterbacks, star defensive backs, star defensive linemen, etc. all run the risk of having their season end on any given play. The Colts lost a Super Bowl to the Saints in a game which they may have won had Dwight Freeney not severely twisted his ankle in the final minutes of the Colts' win over the Jets in the AFC championship game 2 weeks earlier. When Freeney sustained that injury, the game was well in hand for the Colts ...... Colts fans missed out on one of the best defensive players in the NFL being 100% for the Super Bowl that year, but that's just an unfortunate reality that was part of the game then, and always will be.

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Trevor Lawrence Has High Ankle Sprain

(By Michael DiRocco)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...h-ankle-sprain

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Jags have the Browns and then the Ravens, two tough games without Trevor Lawrence. I haven't seen any news, but a high ankle sprain is 4-6 weeks usually. The Jags could drop one or both those games.

We should beat the Bengals, our defense is underrated at 25th (per Fox), Bengals are 27th against the run. We should be able to keep them off the field By running the ball.

The Steelers then... Statistics suggest we will lose, but Pickett is out and Mitch Trubisky hasn't played since late last year (he won).

Anyway, the AFC south needs the Jags to lose two, use to win two, and then the Jags might be the new 7th seed.

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Indianapolis Colts


Chance to Win Division: ) 10.3%


Remaining Strength of Schedule: ) 27th toughest


Why They Can Win the Division: ) The Colts are at a disadvantage because of their two losses to Jacksonville. But if the Jaguars struggle down the stretch, the Colts come into play based on their 3-2 record in the AFC South, and their Week 18 game against Houston. The Colts' match-ups with back-up quarterbacks in the coming weeks don't hurt, either. ) (Recap by Stephen Holder)



https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...division-races

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C.J. Stroud was having a bad day, and he went out of the game in the 4th quarter after banging the back of his head against the turf ...... not a good day for our division rivals.

This was a wasted opportunity for the Colts to put some more space in between themselves and a team that they have already beaten once so far this season.

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It was a wasted opportunity to tie for the division lead, with the Jaguars likely losing to the Ravens next week.

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That's what I thought, also ...... winning the division title should be on the Colts' minds more than getting a Wildcard spot ...... I wanted to include the failures of Stroud and the Texans, also.

The Ravens are also losing, and we beat them head-on ...... if the Colts had won today, running the table, winning the division, and getting the tie-breaker over the Ravens would have been a very real possibility ...... but with the loss to the Bengals today, catching the Ravens is now very likely a pipe-dream.

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He played today...he is diminished but still able to play.

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Oh, thanks. I'll fix it.

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Browns Prevail Behind Joe Flacco’s 3 TD's, Trevor Lawrence’s 3 INT's

(By Bryan DeArdo)

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...ee-picks/live/

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So, both the people on Sunday night football and Florio still have the Colts in the 7th playoff spot and the Bengals out with the same records.

How is that accurate? Cincy has the head to head tiebreaker, don’t they? Both are 7-6.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profoo...os-for-week-14

1. Ravens: 10-3
2. Dolphins: 9-3
3. Chiefs: 8-5
4. Jaguars: 8-5


5. Browns: 8-5
6. Steelers: 7-6
7. Colts: 7-6

8. Texans: 7-6
9. Broncos: 7-6
10. Bengals: 7-6
11. Bills: 7-6

Indianapolis Colts (7-6), second place, AFC South. The Colts maintained the second wild card despite losing to the Bengals because they hold the next conference tiebreaker after the Steelers. Indianapolis hosts Pittsburgh, the team just ahead of it, next. The Colts remain a game behind the Jaguars in the divison and even with the Texans.

That last game with the Texans may end up being huge! Colts have the easiest schedule remaining but after the way they played today I'll be shocked if they can finish!

But I thought head to head was the first tie breaker and conference record was after that? Has it always been this way?

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If there is a direct tie between 2 teams, yes ...... but if there is a tie of 3-or-more teams, not necessarily. That's because there are other teams involved, and other head-to-head play involved.

The Bengals beat the Colts ...... but the Colts beat the Texans ...... and the Texans beat the Bengals ....... and that is just the start of the complex conversation of why the teams are currently in the place in which they are.

Right now, there is a 6-way tie in the AFC between the Colts, the Steelers, the Bengals, the Texans, the Broncos, and the Bills ...... all of whom have records of 7-6, and none of whom are in 1st-place in their division.

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Bottom line is the Steelers game is a must win.

on top of that, the jags face the ravens, and that's a game they could lose. The texans have play the titans on the road, and they could lose that too.

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The Bengals game was also a must-win ...... by losing that game, the Colts have essentially buried their chances of getting a #1 or a #2 seed (a #2 seed would have been a very real possibility if the Colts had run the table to finish at 12-5, due to their win over the Ravens.)

Now, a number #1 or a #2 seed is now pretty much out of the question, but an AFC South division title is still very much a possibility ) ...... l IF l the Colts run the table, and finish at 11-6.

If the Colts lose one more game (either to the Steelers or to any of their 4 remaining opponents), then a division title will very pretty much be out of the question, and a Wildcard will be their last gasp at a playoff berth ...... albeit a lousy-seeded playoff berth.

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Looks like we get Trubisky Saturday...if he plays like he did last game, I like our chances!

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Perhaps we can take heart in what the Denver Broncos have done this season.

The Broncos started the season at 1-5, which included a 70-14 massacre at the hands of the Miami Dolphins ...... since then they have won 6 out of their last 7 games, including a win over the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, and are currently sitting only 1 game behind them for 1st place in the AFC West.

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First and foremost, I obviously want our beloved Colts to win the AFC East division title, and then to march right on through to a Super Bowl appearance ...... but in the event of that not happening, wouldn't it be something if the Broncos played those same Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship game in January ??? Talk about your ultimate revenge opportunity. ) :eek:

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Are they taking a page out of our '18 or '21 playbook? Both started the same... one ended a lot better.

That would be a feat, indeed, for the Colts to win the East this year! :)